Flying-machine.



S. D. MOTT- FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm m. n. 1909.

1,176,086. Patented Mar. 21,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

S. D. MOTT.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPHCATION FILED FEB. n. 1909.

1,176,086. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

{ m WITNESSES: M W INVENTOH I ATTORNEY 'llll COLUMIIA HANOOIAI'II 04,vMlmNnToN. n. c.

SAMUEL D. MOTT, OF PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Application filed February fl, 1909. Serial No. 478,412.

To all wlz am it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL D. Mo'r'r, a. citizen of the United-States,residing at Passaic, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, ofwhich the following is a s ecification, reference being bad therein tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

' My-invention relates to flying machines of the helicopter type andmore particularly to means whereby the direction of flight maybecontrolled by ashifting of the center of gravity. of the apparatus inits entirety.

In'the type .of machine to which my invention relates, the direction oftraverse of the machine is controlled by the plane occupied by thepropellers, the propellers having a vertical lift when on a horizontalplane, and having a horizontal component of motion corresponding withthe angle of inclination of the propellers from the horizontal. Thepropeller shafts carry a car having a swivel connect on relativethereto, and the bulk of the weight or load is concentrated below theblades of the propeller and is so placed as to permit the center ofgravity to be shifted th ough the movement,

or the disposition of the load on said car.

Heretofore it has been contemplated to vary the angle of inclination ofthe entire apparatus to control the speed and direction of the carstravel, by having the operator or operators move about the platform.either radially or circumferentially. thus shifting the center of ravityeither with relation to the angle of inclination of the propeller or thedirection in which it is desired to go. This expedient while ada ted tothe experienced, is unsuited to the novice or the unskilled, and to thisextent constitutes a drawback or defect in a commercial mach ne.

With this in view. the main object of the invention is to provide aflying machine of the helicopter type wherein. the car will be normallyoverbalanccd so as to give a normal'angle of inclination from thehorizontal'to the power propellers; wherein the car will be capable of aswiveling lmovement about the axis of the propellers, and wherein meanswill be provided to turn the entire car about the axis ofifrotaticn ofthe pro- ,.pellers;to.shift the center of'gravlty of the machine withoutvarying the position of the load on the car.

A further object is to provide a flying machine wherein the operator maycause the car to swivel relative to the propellers at any desired speedor to any desired extent so as to place the control of the car entirelywithin the power of the operator, and permit any evolutions whatever.

A still further object is to provide a flying machine wherein thesteering apparatus may also be utilized to exercise control over thespeed of flight independently of or in conjunction with the engine.

A still further object is to provide a machine wherein the steeringapparatus may be utilized to impart stability to the machine while inflight.

A still further object is to provide a machine embodying therein meanswhereby the plane-of the power propellers and of the car may becontrolled to facilitate the return of the machine to land.

A still further object is to provide a machine wherein the steeringapparatus may also be utilized if desired to accelerate the speed ofthe'machine in-fiight, as well as to control the direction of flight, ina manner similar to that of twin propellers on a boat.

A still further object is to provide a flying machine wherein theoperator may steer same by an ordinary controlling gearing positionedconveniently so that the atten tion of the operat r may be concentratedon the direction of flight only, thus eliminating the factor of caringfor personal safety, while operating the machine.

A still further obiect is to provide a steering and controllingmechanism for flying machines wh ch will not add materially to theweight of the machine, or diminish substantially the power developed bythe motor. And a still further object is to provide a steering apparatusthe operation of which will be independent of the moving ine t a of theentire machine.

The invention consists primarily in the combination, in a flving machineof the helicopter type, of propellers, a motor, a normallv overbalancedcar having a swiveling relation to said propellers, and a steeringmechanism whereby said car may be swiveled about the axis of saidpropellers; and in such other novel features of construction andcombination of parts as are herein set forth and described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view ofa machineembodyingmy invention illustrated as being on an even keel with onl aportion of the liftin propellers shown; ig'. .Z'isa plan view thereofwith the lifting propellersomitted;.Fig. 3 is a view showing the drivingmechanism for thesteeringpropellers,.and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic viewof the controlling device 1 driving mechanismiofsaid propelers.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, I have made only a conventional showing ofthe propellers, the propeller actuat'ng mechanism, and the engine andits appurtenances, inasmuch as this invention relates more particularlyto the means for controlling the flight of the machine. In saiddrawings. I have shown at a-an'ordinary propeller, and at b. a propellerof lesser diameter which pro ellers are mounted upon independent sha tsa b. actuated respectively through the oppositely disposed bevel gears ab in mesh with the pinions c driven by the engine (l which may be of anydesired or approved type. It will be observed that the b are thusrotated in opposite irection's, causing each to absorb the reaction ofthe other, and establish a relatively stationary position of the car ofthe machine. This car indicated at e has a swiveled relation about theaxis of the ropellers and theirshafts, being sus ended rom a bearing fpreferably a all caring. The engine frame and the car 6 it will thus beobserved have concentrated therein the bulk of the weight of themachine, and the engine being symmetrically disposed about the verticalaxis of the propellers, gives stability to the machine. In this'type ofmachine, the propellers a b have a directly vertical lift under normalconditions and in order to secure a horizontal traverse of the machine,it is necessary to tilt these propellers from the horizontal thusintroducing a horizontal component of movement in the entire machine. Toaccomplish this result, it is necessary to shift the center of gravityto unbalance the machine. While this may be done gropellers a byproviding a circular platform concen-' tric with the propellers, andshiftin a portion of the load on said platform, aim in the present caseto eliminate the necessity for the movement of any part of the loadrelative to the car and provide independent means whereby the car anditsload'may be swivele'd about the axis of the propellers. It isappnrcntthat to accomplish th's result themachineto secure a horizontalcomponentof movement, -mustbe normally unbalanced so as to give thedesired angle of inclination to the propellers.

In the drawir gs, l have shown the car as consisting 01 a forward guardrail 9 having a top rail g wh.ch rails are suspended from a circularframe adjacent to the top of the engine frame. For the purpose ofminimizing the weight of the machine, such suspension means preferablyconsist of the tension wires g. The engine frame has pending therefrcm atank It for carrymg the fuel supply'to' which tank is secured, by meansof suitable braces h, the main portion 2' of the car. This portion isprovided with rollers 2" i upon which the machine will rest, when on theround or will alight in case it descends to t ie ground with the frontthereof pitched forwardly and downwardly. The use of rollers beneath aflying machine being old in this art, no claim of invention to thisarrangement broadly is made.

Preferably the construction of the rails g g and the frames 9 and iinvolves the use of steel tubing or other light material as securing themaximum of strength with the minimum of weight. Supported from the frame1? in any desired manner ecccntrically of the propellers, are seatsindicated in dotted lines at 7' for the operators or occupants of themachine. These seats have mounted on the under sides thereof a shaft 1'carrying pinions j the frame i, the shaft 'at each end thereof adjacentto the seats 7' ein provided with a hand wheel 7' by means 0% which theseats, in their entirety, may be moved toward and from the axis ofrotation of the propellers for the pur ose of varying the angle ofinclination 0 said propellers if it be desired to control the velocityof flight in this manner.

The s de braces of the frame 2' are curved outwardly at the top andbottom thereof, to form extensions upon which respectively are mountedthe supporting wheels 2', and the steering propellers to be hereinafterreferred to. Carried by the upper extension of each said side brace, isa block 7c having therein a longitudinal bearing is and a lateralbearing is. These bearings are substantially diametrically opposite eachother relative to the axis of rotation of the propellers, areequi-distant from said axis, and are parallel to the seats j or therails g g. The angle of the bearings la is such that when the machine ispitched forwardly when overbalanced by the weight of the load, it willbe on a substantially horizontal line so that if desired the steeringpropellers may be used to accelerate the velocity of the machine in itsflight.

Mounted in each bearing In is a shaft m carrying a propeller 11 havingany desired number of vanes. These propellers, it will thus be observed,are positioned on. opposite in mesh with racks 7" carried on sides andto the rear of the axis of rotation of the lifting ropellers and arethus adapted to exert a orce tangentially of said axis for the purposeof swiveling the frame 6 and all those portions of the car mounted witha swiveled relation to said power or lifting propellers.

Mounted in each bearing k and in a bearing it carried by the engineframe, is a shaft m through which power is transmitted to the. shaft m.Carried by each shaft m and m are intermeshing bevel gears 0, throughwhich a rotary movement may be given the propellers. The primaryfunction of the propellers n is to give direction horizontally to theflight of the machine or to briefly express it, to act as steeringpropellers. They may be used, however, to accelerate or retard thevelocity of the flight by being simultaneously rotated in eitherdircction. or to facilitate the landing of the machine by bringing thepropellers a-J), or exerting a tendency to bring them, to a horizontalplane. Inasmuch as their steering function necessitates the ap licationof unbalanced or oppositely applied forces on opposite sides of themachine, it is apparent that each propeller n must be driven by powerindependent of the other, or separately controlled, in order that saidpropellers may be rotated simultaneously in the same direction orindependently in either direction, to cause the machine to describe acurve of any desired radius. Inasmuch as in a machine of this characterweight is an important factor. it is desirable to drive the steeringpropellers n from the same engine driving the power propellers a b andto use separate controlling means for each steering propeller wherebythe rotation of said propellers may be so controlled as to give them thefunctions above referred to. It is apparent, however, that if desired,the functions of accelerating or retarding the velocity of flight, or ofbringing the power propellers to a horizontal planc when alighting, maybe eliminated by so setting up the driving mechanism of these propellersthat the controlling mechanism will cause these propellers to rotatesimultaneously in opposite directions so as to have only a swivelingaction on the car. In the preferred fo m of the invention, I provide theshaft 7) with an extension I) actuating a transmission gearin; system 7)by means of which the propellers n may be actuated. This svstem isillustrated in Fig. 3 and in describing it, reference will be had moreparticularly to that figure.

Keyed to the shaft I) is a bevel gear (1 in mesh with a plurality ofdouble beveled Hours 7 disposed diametrically opposite each other'andloosely'mounted one on each shaft m.

Mounted in suitable bearings p on the engiae frame, are idler bevelgears pin mesh with the gears g, and with the outer gears q also looselymounted on the said shafts m. The lower end of the shaft is mounted in athrust bearing 1) to relieve said gear system from excessive strainsthrough the ear g. Slidably mounted on each shaft m, by means of afeather r, is a sliding cone or plate r adapted to frictionally enga eeither gear g or and couple it to its shaft 112.. Each said cone orplate is adapted to be operated by means of a lever 1- from which thesteering chains or lines 8 s extend to the steering hand wheels t t. Itwill be observed that the rotation of either shaft m may thus beindependently controlled, and that either shaft may be rotated to exerteither a forward or backward thrust.

The operation of the herein described flying machine is substantially asfollows, assuming that the machine is on the ground, on a level keel, asshown in Fig. 1, and that both seats are occupied: Power is appliedthrough the engine d, the-bevel gears c on the crank shaft thereof, andthe bevel gears o I) on the shafts a b, actuating the propellers a b.When so actuated the said propellers will be rotated in oppositedirections and the speed of rotation or the area of said blades beingproperly regulated or propertioned, each propeller will absorb thereaction of the other and avoid the rotation of the car 0. When themachine is on the ground it will rest upon the rollers z" i and thelatter will take up any impact in landing or al'ighting. As thepropellers a I) develop sufficient velocity, they will exert a directvertical lifting power upon the entire machine, but as the machineleaves the ground the weight of the occupants of the seats 7' willoverbalanre the entire machine and shift the center of gravity forwardlyof the axis of said shafts and thus give a forward inclination to thepropellers a 7). The angle of this inclination will be governed entirelyby the distance of the seats from said axis of rotation and if it hedesired to reduce the normal horizontal component of motion, the seatsmay be positioned nearer the axis of the propellers by means of the rackj, the pinions j on the shaft and the hand wheels '1". The normaloverhalauciug of the machine by the weight of the occupants, or anyother ballast if such be desirable, gives an initial predeterminedcourse corresponding to the lines of the projection of the radiallyprojected frame of the car carrving the seats. It will be obser ed thatin a dircctlv vertical flight or in a flight along this predeterminedcourse the swi el relation of the car to the propellers, will have thesole effect of permitting the free rotation of the latter. If thedesired course is laid by the position of the machine as it leaves theground. both cones or plates n maybetlirown into frictional engagementone with the gear q and the other with the gear 9 to" simultaneouslyrotate both ropellez's so as to give a rearward thrust. his would havethe tendency to preserve the stability of the machine, and maintain thepower propellers a b at the desired angle of inclination irrespective ofthe resistance encountered by the car andits load; and if the propellersbe arranged in substantial alinement with the center of resistance ofthe car and its load, the propellers might if geared to drive at highvelocity continuously give a forward thrust to the entire car whichwould accelerate its speed without varying the altitude, or the verticalcomponent of movement exerted by the main power propellers. Thiscoupling would be accomplished through the steering wheels 15 t and therudder chains or lines a a in a manner which is apparent from referenceto Fig. 4. If it be desired to use these steering propellers -nfor thepurpose of securing acceleration in the speed of the machine, theposition of the cones or plates 1 might also be reversed through thesteering chains or lines and in the manner above referred to, so as togive a rotary movement to said propellers n which will exert a forward,or a reverse thrust, thus adding this thrust to the resistanceencountered by the car and its lead, and giving a greater inclinationfrom the vertical to the power propellers a 7) thereby decreasing thevertical component of movement and increasing the horizontal. If it. hedesired to change the course of light to the left. the steering handleit will he turned so as to move to the right. the cone or plate r (shownto the right of Fig. 3) so as to reverse the propeller n (shown on theright in Fig. 1) or the said left handle t mav be used to throw the coneor plate r (shown to the left in Fig. 3) to the ri ht to turn thepropeller n (shown to the loft in Fig. ll so as to give a forward thrustthereto. or the cones or plates r mav be simultaneouslv thrown into thisposition to cause the left hand pr peller to have a rearward thrust andthe right hand rope ler. a f rward thrust. the manner of tlrowinsr inthe clutches hein determined by the radius of e cur e which it isdesired to describe.

\Vhen the propel ers a a e rotated alone or together. as described, thepropeller on the left. of the m chine will have a. backward thrust: or te propeller on the right of the machine will h e a. forward thrust. othese propellers will have a. simultaneous backward and forward thrust.so as to rotate or swi el the entire car re ative to the shaft a I) andthus shift the center of gravity of the entire machine circumferentinllvof s id shafts and ehantzethe plane of rotation of the power propellersso as to impart a horizontal component of motion to the. entire.machine. in. the general. direction in which it is desired to go. Byreversing the manner of coupling said clutches as above referred to, themachine may be directed to the right. If it be desired to turn on a loncurve, but one propeller it should be cause to rotate and the speed ofrotation should be regulated by the clutch mechanism so as to limit theextent of the forward or rearward thrust thereof. If the curve be sharthe course described by the machine may lie regulated by increasin thespeed of rotationof one propeller or it the curve be very sharp, byrotating one propeller at full speed ahead, and the other at full speedreverse. It will be observed that by this mechanism the machine may bemaneuvered from a point fixed relative to the ear, and that thedirection of {light may be controlled with great precision by theoperator or occupants even to increasing the vertical component ofmovement of the machine or the horizontal component of movement. Thelast two controls would be by the simultaneous thrust exerted by bothblades '11, either forward or reverse, thus changing the inclination ofthe main power propellers a b. In alighting, the car a being normallyoverbalanced, and having an acquired momentum. it might be desirable torestore the propellers a (1 to a horizontal plane, or as near ahorizontal plane as possible, and by causing the steering propellers 'nto give a simultaneous forward thrust when the main propeller is runningat low speed, and the resistance encountered by the car and itsoccupants is at a minimum, this result may be accomplished.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction, or the general design of the machine, as herein shown anddescribed as it is apparent that the same may be modified withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In its broadest aspect. the invention consists in the utilization of amechanism acting upon the air itself for the purpose of swiveling a ca rnormally over-balanced, relati e to the main power propeller throughwhich the machine is sustained and controlled. in a manner to controlthe direction of propulsion without modifying the sustaining powerexerted by said propeller, and I intend to claim such broadly. That thepreferred form of my mechanism for accomplishing this result may also beutilized for a further control of the machine is immaterial to theinvention in its broader aspects.

Having described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected bv Letters Patent. is:- i

1. In a flying machine of the helicopter type, the combination of a pairof' power -propellers. a. gnotcr adapted ,tesimnltal O U neously rotatesaid propellers in opposite directicns, a'car having a swivelingrelation to said propellers, load carrying means carried by, andoccupying a-fixed relation upon, said car eccentrically of the axes ofsaid power propellers, whereby the said power propellers will benormally tilted so as to give a horizontal component of motion to themachine, a plurality of similarly set steering propellers arranged uponopposite sides of the axes of said power propellers, and having a thrustat substantially right angles to that of said power propellers, meanscontrolling the operative eifect of said propellers, and a powertransmission system whereby said propellers may be driven.

2. In a flying machineof the helicopter type, the combination of a pairof power propellers, a motor adapted to simultaneously rotate saidpropellers in op osite directions, a car havin a swiveling re ation tosaid propellers, loac carrying means carried by and occupying a fixedrelation upon. said car eccentrically of the axes of said powerpropellers whereby the said power propellers will be normally tilted soas to give a horizontal component of motion to the machine, a pluralityof similarly set steering propellers arranged substantiallydiametrically opposite said load carrying means and upon opposite sidesof the innchine, said last named propellers having a thrust atsubstantially right angles to that of said power propellers. meanscontrolling the operative effect of said propellers and a powertransmission system whereby said last named propellers may be driven.

3. In a flying machine of the helicopter type, the combination of a pairof power propellers, a motor adapted to simultaneously rotate saidpropellers in opposite directions, a car havin a swiveling re ation tosaid propellers, load carrying means carried by and occupying a fixedrelation upon, said car eccentrically of the axes of said powerpropellers whereby the said power propellers will be normally tilted soas to give a horizontal component of motion to the machine, a pluralityof similarly set steering propellers arranged substantiallydiametrically opposite said load carrying means and upon opposite sidesof the machine, said last named propellers having a thrust atsubstantially right angles to that of said power propellers, meanscontrolling the operative effect of said propellers, a powertransmission system whereby said ast named propellers may be driven,indeendently operative controlling means adacent said load carryingmeans and connections between said last named controlling meansrespectively and said first named controlling means whereby saidsteering propellers may be independently controlled.

4. In a flying machine of the helicopter type, the combination ofa pairof owerpropellers, a motor adapted to simu taneously rotate saidpropellers in opposite directions, a car having a swiveling relatior tosaid pro ellers, load carrying means carried by, an occupying a fixedrelation upon, said our eccentrically of the axes of said powerpropellers, whereby the said power propellers will be normally tilted soas to give a horizontal component of motion to the machine, a pluralityof similarly set steering propellers arranged upon opposite sides of theaxes of said ower propellers andhaving a thrust at su stantially rightangles to that of said power propellers, and a power transmission systemwhereby said propellers may be driven including therein means wherebysaid propellers respectively may be driven in either direction, andindependently operative controlling means whereby the direction of saidpropellers may be independentl controlled.

5.'In a flying mac line of the helicopter type, the combination of apair of power pro ellers, a motor adapted to simultaneous rotate saidpropellers in oppositedirections, a car having a swiveling relation tosaid pro iellers, load carrying means carried by, an occupying a fixedrelation upon, said car eccentrically of the axes of said powerpropellers, whereby the said power propellers will be normally tilted soas to give a horizontal component of motion to 1 he machine, a pluralityof similarly set steering propellers arranged upon opposite sides of theaxes of said power )ropellers, and having a thrust at substantiallyright angles to that of said power propellers, and a power transmissionsystem whereby said propellers may be driven comprising a beveled gearcarried by the shaft of one of said power propellers, beveled gearscarried by said steering propellers respectively, a plurality oftransmission shafts each having mounted thereon a beveled gear in meshwith the gear upon said steering pro ellers respectively, a doublebeveled gear oosely mounted on each of said transmission shafts and inmesh with the beveled gear carried by the shaft of said power propeller,a second beveled gear also loosely mounted upon each of saidtransmission shafts, an intermediate idler gear in mesh with both of thegears upon said shaft whereby said gears will be simultaneously drivenin opposite directions. a clutch carried by, rotatable with, andslidable upon each of said shafts and adapted to operatively engageeither of the gears loosely mounted thereupon, and independentlyoperative means for actuating said clutches respectively.

6. In a .iyin machine of the helicopter type, the combination of a pairof power propellers, a .motor adapted to simultaneously rotate saidpropellers in opposite directions, a car having a swiveling relationpellet-s mounted on opposite sides of the lon-. to said propellers, loadcarrying means car-, gitudinal center of the machine and having ried by,and occupying a fixed relation upon, a longitudinal thrust, agearingsystem in-. said car eccentrically of the axes of said eludingtherein a gear'mounted on the shaft power. propellers, whereby the saidpower of said 'POWBI propeller, and a direct and a propellers will benormally tilted, so; as to reverse driving gear adapted to rotate each45 give a horizontal component of motion to steering pro eiler, anddriven continuously the machine, means whereby said load carfrom said frst mentioned gear, a clutch rying means may be shifted toward or fromadapted to set either said direct or reverse the axes of said; powerpropellers,'a plurality gear relative to its steering propeller, and

ofsimilarly set steering propellers arranged aneans controlling saidclutches, whereby said 50 upon opposite .sides of the axes of saidpropellers may be rotated in opposite direcpower propellers, and havinga thrust at tions to swivel said car in either direction.

substantially. right angles to that of said 9. In a flying machine ofthe helico ter power propellers, means controlling-the optype, thecombination of a power prope ler, erative effect of said propellers, anda power a motor driving same, a normally overbal- 5 transmission systemwhereby said propellers anced car having a swiveling relation to may bedriven. said. propeller, a plurality of steering pro- '7,. In a flyingmachine of the helicopter pellers mounted on opposite sides of thelontype, the combination of a power prope lei, gitudinal center of themachine and having a motor driving same, a normally overbala.longitudinal thrust, a gearing system in- 00 anced car having aswiveling relation to eluding therein a gear mounted on the shaft saidpropeller, a plurality of steering roof said power propeller and adirect and a pellers mounted on opposite sides of the onreverse drivinggear adapted to rotate each gitudinal center of the machine and havingsteering Sropeller, and driven continuously adapted to set either 0 saidgears, relative whereby said propellers may be rotated in a longitudinalthrust, a gearing system acfrom sai first mentioned gear, a friction 65tuated bysaid motor, including therein a diclutch adapted to set eithersaid direct or root and a reverse driving gear adapted to reverse gearrelative to its steering ropelrotate each steering r0 )eller, a clutchler, and means controlling said c utchcs to. its steering propeller, anmeans conopposite directions and at variable speed, to trolling saidclutches, whereby said propelswivel said car in EltllldiIQClZiOll. lersmay berotated in oppos te direct ons to In witness whereof, I havehereunto afswivelsaid car in either direction. fixed my signature, this25th day of J anu- 8. In a flying. machine of the helicopter ary, 1909,in the presence of two witnesses.

type, the combination of a power .prope ler, SAMUEL D. MOTT.

a motor driving same, a normally overbal- Witnesses:

anced car having a swiveling relation to Geo. MCCAY,

said propeller, a plurality of steering pro- P. V. -Wimmo.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

